NEWS From Israel

Picture: Iran makes known their thoughts by burning coffins with Israeli and American flags

The New York Times has placed Iran on its list of “52 Places to Love in 2021” – The Times put Iran on its “52 Places” list in 2019, but the journalist hired to visit all 52 places admitted that it was too dangerous to visit Iran. Yet now the Times is presenting Iran as a place to ‘love’, while knowing it is a Terrorist State. The Times is accused of ‘Divisive Politics’ by swaying public opinion as Israel and the U.S. may have to attack Iran before Iran attacks the West with Nuclear weapons. 

 Prime Minister Netanyahu reacts to Iran’s manufacturing of Nuclear weapons, “I reiterate: Israel will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.” 

Israel Sends Iran Message – While Israel has been using the southern region of Lebanon to strike at Iranian positions in West Syria. Israel had to use Lebanon in order to sneak around Russian air defense systems installed in Syria. Their 1/12/21 attack targeted the Euphrates valley region in Syria. The intel for the strike came directly from the USA. To launch an attack from Israel, clear to the Euphrates is amazing and an escalation with a message to the Iranians.  

Jewish-American Spy Jonathan Pollard Allowed back to Israel –  An end of a saga that began with his arrest 35 years ago for passing US secrets to Israel. Pollard and his wife arrived in Israel and knelt down to kiss the ground. Pollard, a U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was paid thousands of dollars by Israel in exchange for classified U.S. military documents. The incident strained relations between the U.S. and Israel. Sentenced to life in prison in 1985 to be made an example of, some say that Pollard’s parole terms came as a gesture of goodwill from the Trump administration.

In one of the President Trump’s final acts as his term in office, Trump ordered that Israel be included in CENTCOM, the major U.S. military command for the Middle East.

Israel recently delivered 2 Iron Dome Defense System batteries to the U.S. Army. These batteries will be used in the defense of US troops against a variety of ballistic and aerial threats.

New US Embassy in Jerusalem – Jerusalem municipal authorities gave preliminary approval for the construction of a new US embassy. Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor said the new building will be located on Jerusalem’s Hebron Road, not far from the current site of the temporary US embassy. She also said the temporary embassy in Jerusalem will be expanded.

Another Israeli Election –  On March 23, just days before Passover, Israelis will vote once again for Prime Minister. The election will be the 4th in 2 years after a Government collapse. During the last 7 months coalition between Netanyahu’s Likud party and his alternate, Gantz’s party was plagued by mistrust and infighting. According to polls, Likud may still lead over other parties, but Gideon Saar, who left the Likud and formed the New Hope party, and Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home party, will also draw a large following from the right.

Palestinian Authority Elections – PA leader Abbas finally sets the dates for Palestinian elections. Elections for The Palestinian Legislative Council will take ‎place in May, 2021. They will vote for parties such as Hamas or Fatah. The elections for the PA ‎‎’President’ in July, 2021.‎ Abbas has been ‘President’ for 16 years, which was against their laws.

Palestinian Terror Groups Launch Joint Military Drill – Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations based in Gaza held a joint war games exercise. Their focus was on a future war with Israel. Hamas and other groups such as Islamic Jihad boast of mini militias with heavily-armed and uniformed fighters numbering in the thousands. The “Oslo Accords” obligated the Arab Muslims to disarm all militant factions. Only official Palestinian Authority security forces are supposed to carry guns. But the policy of ‘one gun’ in the hands of militant groups was ignored and has violated that requirement.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) contacted Biden’s office in hopes to resume U.S. finances to them for ‘Palestinian’ refugees. Commissioner of UNRWA said he believes the New Administration will release funds again.

Big Tech Control Concerns the World – Leaders around the world condemned Big Tech’s suppression on free speech. France said “Big Tech is threatening democracies and free society.” Australia said banning Trump is an act of censorship, quoting Voltaire’s famous line: “I may not agree with what you say, but I defend the right to say it.” Freedom of speech is fundamental to a democratic society. German Chancellor Merkel called Big Tech ‘problematic’ and said “Freedom of opinion is a fundamental right.” Norway’s left-wing Labor Party said, “Big Tech censorship threatens political freedom around the world.” Leader of the European People’s Party, center-right called for Big Tech firms to be regulated, “We cannot leave it to American Big Tech to decide what we can or cannot discuss online.” In Russia, Nalvany says, “This precedent will be exploited by the enemies of freedom of speech around the world.

Persecution Sadly is Alive and Well – 12/24, Muslim militants attacked Rev. Shaho of the Assemblies of God Church in Waziri, severely beating him. They kidnapped the pastor’s wife who is still missing. 12/21 Rev. James of Godiya Baptist Church was abducted by militants. Muslim extremists also destroyed another village where they killed 8 people. 12/17 militants killed 10 Christians in the Gora Gan village. The same day, another group of Muslims attacked the village of Tudu killing an elderly man.

Corona Passport – The International Air Transport Association said that they are in the final development phase of a mobile digital passport app that would tell airlines if travelers have been vaccinated for Corona. The app would help get people traveling again safely by giving governments confidence that testing can work as a replacement for quarantine requirements. Australia’s Qantas Airline has already made it clear that international travelers are to prove they have been vaccinated. Korean Air is taking a similar stance.

New Coronavirus Lab at Ben-Gurion Airport – Israel has developed a testing system with an innovative lab inside their international airport. The lab will allow for rapid Corona tests of outbound and inbound passengers to help return to a quicker and more efficient travel time, to and from Israel.

Israel Invokes 3rd Full Lock-Down – On January 5^th, Netanyahu said, “We are in the midst of a pandemic that is spreading at top speed with the British mutation. It is costing Israel $780 million each week that it is locked down.

South African Variant – The Ministry of Health said that 4 cases of the new South African variant of coronavirus have been discovered in Israel – all of which came from the United Arab Emirates.

Israel has not opened to Tourists – A ban on all foreign nationals from entering Israel will remain in place for now. However, people are being vaccinated at a rapid rate and Israel hopes to be done before Passover and Easter.